Feedback

May 18, 2003

* Bill: Recently you had an article about a local politician who is "avoiding" local personal property tax by having "Independent Dealer" plates on the car he is using for personal use. I would like to see an in-depth study and article on the use of these plates. Who are these Independent Dealers, by name and location? What is the intended purpose of the plates? How many vehicles are so tagged? Today, I saw a vehicle with an independent dealer plate. It was on a van that had been professionally painted with advertising. I apparently incorrectly assumed the plates were for companies in the business of selling cars and to be used for demonstrators or vehicles actually and realistically for sale. The example above strongly suggests a serious misunderstanding on my part or a misuse on the part of this "dealer."

Editor: We'll consider your suggestion. Thanks.

* Although this is not a DP problem, I would like to comment on "Sharp-eyed teacher spots error in test." In this sentence "genius" is used as a noun, not an adjective. In fact, it is the subject of the sentence. "Toni Morrison's" possessive adjective is a proper adjective that modifies genius. "Her" is the object of the verb "enables" and must be in the objective case and is used correctly. Also, "her" is the subject of the infinitive "to create" and the subject of an infinitive is always in the objective case. The sharp-eyed teacher has not convinced me the sentence is incorrect.

Editor: The sharp-eyed teacher evidently convinced a group of PSAT academicians, who studied the sentence and pronounced the answer on the exam incorrect.

* Carolyn, Newport News: HU had a graduation last Sunday. It was very nice. It would have been nice to see something on the front page.

Editor: We ran a photo of Hampton University's graduation on the front page Monday, with more photos and a story on the Local News front.

* Don, Newport News: Occasionally, when people complain that you did not publish their Feedback, your reply is that their communication should have been sent as a letter to the editor or as an editorial Feedback. Provided the communication contained the required name, address, and telephone number, could you not have forwarded it to the appropriate department? It seems to me that dropping it in the interoffice mail would be just as easy as dropping it in the wastebasket, and you would be providing just a little bit better service for your readers.

Editor: When the full identification is provided, we send it to the right department. Often, for items sent in for A2 Feedback, that information is not provided.